Table 6. Summary of local ecological knowledge common to all studied occupational groups in the target community, Kenya.

Ecological component

Ecological links and processes

Mangroves

- Knowledge of the central function of mangroves in coastal biological,
hydrological, and geomorphologic processes in the form of nursery habitats, water
filtration, and sediment stabilization- Awareness of the nursery function
provided by mangroves for fish and shellfish residing part of their life outside
of the mangrove habitat; Shows a notion of the positive spillover effect of such
functions on coupled ecological subsystems such as seagrass beds and coral
reefsa- Acknowledgement that historical and present land uses,
such as mangrove cutting, will cause changes in the distribution and abundance of
associated species, e.g., crabs, shrimp, fish, and ecosystem functions such as soil
stabilization, water movement, nursery habitats, nesting areas, and wind
breakersa

Penaeidae shrimps

- Acknowledgement that seasonal climatic changes affect the distribution
and abundance of shrimp and finfish in the area:seasonal monsoons and the
resulting freshwater outflow attract juvenile shrimps into the mangrove
system